Echinacea plant named ‘IFECSSBLUS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘IFECSSBLUS’, characterized by its relatively compact and upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; strong flowering stems; numerous single-type inflorescences with purplish pink-colored ray florets and dark red-colored receptacle spines; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Echinacea hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IFECSSBLUS’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Innoflora Plant Breeding B.V. of Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands on Nov. 24, 2022, application number 2022/2653. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant, botanically known as Echinacea hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘IFECSSBLUS’.

The new Echinacea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new vigorous and freely flowering Echinacea plants with large inflorescences with unique and attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Echinacea plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor in July, 2019 in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida identified as code number 009-16-K051-03, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida identified as code number 009-15-K009-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Echinacea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands in August, 2020.

Asexual reproduction of the new Echinacea plant by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since September, 2020 has shown that the unique features of this new Echinacea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Echinacea have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘IFECSSBLUS’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘IFECSSBLUS’ as a new and distinct Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact and upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Strong flowering stems.     -   5. Numerous single-type inflorescences with purplish         pink-colored ray florets and dark red-colored receptacle spines.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Echinacea have three         whorls of ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of the         female parent selection have a single whorl of ray florets.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Echinacea are purplish pink         in color whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent         selection are purple in color.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are more compact than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Echinacea have three         whorls of ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of the         male parent selection have a single whorl of ray florets.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Echinacea are purplish pink         in color whereas florets of plants of the male parent selection         are red in color.

Plants of the new Echinacea can be compared to plants of Echinacea purpurea ‘Salmon’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of ‘Salmon’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are more compact than plants of         ‘Salmon’.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Echinacea have three         whorls of ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of         ‘Salmon’ have two whorls of ray florets.

Plants of the new Echinacea can also be compared to plants of Echinacea purpurea ‘Hope’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,194. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Echinacea differ primarily from plants of ‘Hope’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Echinacea are more compact than plants of         ‘Hope’.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Echinacea have three         whorls of ray florets whereas inflorescences of plants of ‘Hope’         have a single whorl of ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Echinacea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Echinacea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘IFECSSBLUS’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘IFECSSBLUS’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet (FIG. 3 ) is a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘IFECSSBLUS’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late summer in 19-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Echinacea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18C to 34C and night temperatures ranged from 8C to 18C. Plants were 15 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea hybrida ‘IFECSSBLUS’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida             identified as code number 009-16-K051-03, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Echinacea hybrida             identified as code number 009-15-K009-01, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About twelve days at             temperatures about 20C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 20C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 36 days             at temperatures about 18C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 42 days             at temperatures about 18C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial;             relatively compact and upright plant habit; broadly oblong             to broadly obovate in overall shape; freely basal branching             habit with about ten primary lateral branches and about ten             secondary lateral branches developing per plant; moderately             vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 41.7 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 41.5 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 23.6 cm. Diameter: About             7 mm. Internode length: About 4.2 cm. Aspect: Erect to about             25 degrees from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Moderately to densely pubescent; strigose. Color: Close to             144A and 146C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Basal and cauline leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple.             Length: About 11.8 cm. Width: About 4.7 cm. Shape: Narrowly             ovate. Apex: Narrowly acute; occasionally slightly recurved.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Irregularly shallow and broad             indentations. Texture and luster, upper surface: Densely             pubescent, strigose and rough; matte. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Moderately pubescent, strigose and rough;             matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves,             upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to NN137B; venation, close to 144A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; venation,             close to 152D.         -   Petioles, basal and cauline leaves.—Length: About 3.7 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Texture, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Color, upper surface: Slightly darker than a             blend of 141B and 143A; midvein, close to 145A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 137D; midvein, close to 144B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescences with ray and disc             florets arranged on a capitulum; inflorescences positioned             upright above the foliar plane on mostly upright and strong             peduncles.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 20             developing and fully developed inflorescences per plant.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; sweet and pleasant.         -   Time to flower.—Plants flower continuously from late June             into late September in The Netherlands.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about three weeks on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About             6.4 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Immature             involucral bracts, close to 137B; immature ray florets,             close to 49C; and immature receptacle spines, close to 146A             with apices, close to 151A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 10.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 4.3 cm. Disc diameter: About 3.2 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 155C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 48 to 80             arranged in about three whorls at the base of the             receptacle. Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Oblanceolate; slightly carinate. Apex: Praemorse.             Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Aspect: About 30             degrees from horizontal; with development, apices curled             slightly downward. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 70D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to a blend of 70D and 75C; towards the base, close to 64B;             venation, similar to lamina color; color becoming closer to             a blend of 27A and 164D and towards the base, close to 185D,             with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to a blend of 68D and 73C; venation, similar to lamina             color; color becoming closer to 182D, distally, tinged with             close to 165D and proximally, close to 182B with subsequent             development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 280 per             inflorescence, arranged spirally at the center of the             inflorescence. Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Tubular; proximal 10% free, not fused. Apex: Acute.             Base: Fused. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and luster,             inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex:             Close to 146A. Mid-section: Close to 146C. Base: Close to             145B. Color, fully opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex:             Close to 177B. Mid-section and base: Close to 146C.         -   Receptacle spines.—Quantity: One per disc floret; about 280             per inflorescence. Shape: Acicular. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Apex: Close to 187A. Mid-section: Close to 25A. Base:             Close to 145B to 145C.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 100             arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:             About 3 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate; strongly reflexed. Apex:             Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Texture             and luster, lower surface: Slightly pubescent; margins,             moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to             137A; towards the margins, close to 139A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 138B; towards the margins, close to 137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 12.9 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:             Moderately pubescent; strigose. Color: Close to 144A with             blotches, close to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on ray and disc             florets): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About             4 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther length: About             3.5 mm. Anther shape: Linear. Anther color: Close to N200A.             Pollen amount: Sparse to moderate. Pollen color: Close to             17B. Gynoecium (present only on disc florets): Quantity per             floret: One. Pistil length: About 6 mm. Stigma shape:             Decurrent, unequal. Stigma color: Close to N200A. Style             length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to 144B. Ovary color:             Close to 157C. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Echinacea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Echinacea     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Echinacea plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good     garden performance and to tolerate rain and wind. Plants of the new     Echinacea have been observed to tolerate high temperatures of 5     about 35C and to be hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 4. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Echinacea plant named ‘IFECSSBLUS’ as illustrated and described. 